Hawks
off to the Races
British
Youth Gridiron League, Scottish Conference
Clyde
Valley Hawks 30- Inverclyde Sharks 6
After
revelling in the atmosphere of Scotstoun Stadium last week, Clyde
Valley Hawks were back on home ground at Lanark Race Course where
continued their build up towards the national play offs with a clean
sweep over Inverclyde
Having
been overpowered by the Hawks at Greenock last month, three touchdowns
from Craig McMillan and one from Ben Hann put paid to any hopes
of the visitors getting any kind of revenge victory in what turned
out to be a very tense encounter
The
Sharks were once again plagued by the numbers game, with a number
of players having to play both side of the ball.
And
despite the convincing score line, the Greenock side went down fighting
following a gutsy defensive display and a courageous 60 yard consolation
touchdown from Gary Clark, after recovering from a nasty
knee injury in the first quarter.
Having
been the first team to score points against the Hawks this season,
the Sharks were looking to hit the opposition early on their opening
drive.
But
disaster struck after just two plays, when the Sharks turned over
the ball, giving the Hawks good field position.
 However
the visitors stepped up the intensity on defense and soon sent a
message out to the home side that it was going to be anything else
than a walk in the park.
The
Sharks then suffered a breakdown on special teams, when a bad snap
sent the ball over the head of punter Martin McIlone and was downed
inside the Sharks 10 yard line.
And
the visitors were promptly punished two plays later, when McMillan
burst through the middle, breaking several challenges for the opening
six points with Tom Chapman tagging on the extra two point conversion
attempt.
Another
tough defensive stand by the Sharks, forced the Hawks to rely on
Chapman for a field goal attempt early in the second quarter which
finished well short of the target.
The
Hawks next drive saw a burst of speed by Quarterback, Ben Hann was
stopped short of the Sharks goal line.
There
then followed the game's first controversial moment, when McMillan
managed to get over the goal line for his second touchdown, despite
complaints that he was brought own yard short and was pulled over
the line by two Sharks players.
And
another two point conversion ensured that the Hawks went into
the half time break two scores to the good.
Then
some superb blocking by the Hawks cleared the way for McMillan to
sprint down to the far corner of the endzone for his third touchdown
of the day during the third period, which was converted by Chapman.
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